Wire dispensing container



asa /zsl ll I l s I INVENTOR H. TUFT ATTORNEYS lllxrh'allbl Jan. 4, 1949.

Patented Jan. 4, 1949 2.458,31; wma msrENsnvG CONTAINER Miles H. Tutt, Huntington iark, Calif., assignor to Deere Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Eowa @riginai 4application May i9, 1945, Serial No. 594,686. iiivided and this application October 5, i946, Serial The present invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to containers of the type adapted to hold a coil of wire, twine, or the llc While the latter is drawn from the coil through a suitable feed opening in the container. Containers of this type are advantageously used on baling presses which have automatic wire tying mechanism, and hold the coils of wire as the latter is fed to the tying mechanism during operation. The present application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 594,684, filed May 19, 1945.

The baling wire comes in rolls of limited length and therefore it is necessary to replenish the sup ply of wire, from time to time. The new coils oi' Wire must be connected in series with the ends of the coils from which the wire is drawn, as by welding the two coil ends together, and the serially connected coils must be arranged in such a manner that when one coil is exhausted the wire is drawn from the second coil without interruption. It is desirable, however, to feed the coils of wire from containers so that the coils are protected from the weather, and against becoming entangled with weeds or hay.

An object of my invention relates to the provision of a novel system of containers which can be removed when the coils therein are exhausted and which can be replaced with new coils of wire without interruption of the baling process.

Another object relates to the provision of a container having two complementary parts forming a closed container for a coil of wire, the two parts having aligned apertures through which the wire can be dispensed, one of the apertures having a bearing bushing to facilitate feeding the wire therethrough, and each of the parts having an outwardly extending slot from the wire dispensing aperture, providing for removing the container from the wire by sliding the latter out through the slots, and the two slots in the complementary members tion relative to each other that when the members are secured together, both slots are blocked to prevent escape of the wire therethrough during operation of the tying mechanism.

These and other objects and advantagesof my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration ofthe following description, in which reference is had to the drawing appended hereto, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a baling press, showing wire dispensing containers embodying the principles of the present inbeing in such a posi` 8 Cla. (Ci. EQ2-E46) vention, mounted on' the press for supplying wire to the tying mechanism;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the two complementary parts of one of the containers;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the other of the two complementary parts of the container;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational View taken along a lined- 4 in Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale, and showing a pair of containers mounted side by side on top of the baling press, one of the vcontainers being partially broken away to conserve space; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the containers mounted on top of the press, one of the containers being removed, another partially broken away,

and a third shown in section and taken along 'a line 5 5 in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the baling press is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 20 and comprises a bale case 2i of more or less conventional form, within which is reciprocably mounted a plunger 22 for compressing hay or other material within the bale case 2i. The plunger 22 slides through the bale case from right to left to compress the material into a. bale, the length of which is indicated by the broken line B. When the bale acquires the predetei--v mined length B, as measured by a serrated measuring wheel 28, the latter initiatesthe operation, through tripping mechanism explained in detail in my above mentioned co-pending application, of Wire tying mechanism indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 21, which securely binds the bale with a pairv of baling wires and begins to form a new bale, which pushes the completed bale toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1, discharging the completed bales from the discharge end of the bale case -at the left hand end (not shown).

Cooperating with the tying mechanism 21 is a pairy of needles 30 which are rigidly xed by clamps 3l in laterally spaced relation on a'bail 32, which extends transversely beneath the bale case 2| and is provided with a pair of upwardly extending arms 33, which are pivotally connected `by a pair of coaxially disposed trunnions 34 to brackets 35 fixed to the two sidewalls 24 of the bale case, respectively. In Figure 1, the needles 30 and supporting arms 33 are shown in solidl lines in their inactive position with the needles retracted from the bale case 2l, and in dotted lines in their tying position, with the needles 30 inserted through the baie case in cooperative relation with the tying mechanism 21.

'Ihe wire for each bale tie is fed from a. pair andere of coils of wire 85, 86 above and below the bale case 21|, respectively. Hence, since there are two bale ties applied to each bale, there are two upper 'wires 81 extending from two upper coils 85 and two spaced lower wires 88 extending from the two lower coils 86. Each of the coils 85, 86 is supported within a generally rectangular container 89, the details of which will be described later. Each container 09 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture on one side thereof, through which the wire is drawn. Each of the upper wires 81 extends longitudinally above the bale case 2|, through the wire tying mechanism 21 and extends longitudinally over the top of the bale being formed to a knot |05 at the upper left hand corner of the bale, by which the wire 81 is connected to the lower wire 88.

The lower wire 88 is drawn from the coil 86 in the container 89 beneath the bale case 2| and extends around a grooved sheave |06 journaled on a bracket |01 that is bolted to the underside of the bale case 2|. The wire 88 extends downwardly from the sheave |06 and under another sheave |08 journaled at the lower end of the needle 80. Passing under the sheave |08, the wire 88 extends upwardly along the needle 30 and over a pair of grooved sheaves |09, ||0, which are journaled in the upper end of the needle 30, from which the wire 88 extends` longitudinally under the bale and upwardly along the end thereof to the knot A`|05. The containers from which the two upper strands 81 of the wire are drawn are positioned side by side on top of the bale case and are identified by 89a and 89h. Another pair of wire containers 89e and 89d are disposed behind the containers 89a and 89h, respectively, to hold the reserve coils of wire from which the wire will be drawn. A similar group of four boxes is mounted beneath the bale case, from Which-the two wire strands 88 are drawn.

Each container 89 comprises two parts, one of which 230 is an open-ended box having a pair of spaced side walls 23|, 232, a top wall 233, a bottom wall 234, and one end wall 235. Each of the side walls 23|, 232 is provided with a centrally disposed circular aperture 236, 231, respectively, and a slot 238, 239 extending horizontally from the apertures 236, 231 to the open end 240 of the box 230.

The other portion 24| of the container 89 comprises an end wall 2,42, which is formed integrally with a side wall 243, which is slidable along the side wall 232 of the box 230, while the end wall 242 is disposed perpendicular to the side wall 243 and serves to close the open end 240 of the box 230. The side wall 243 is provided with a centrally disposed circular aperture 244 and a slot 245, which extends horizontally from the aperture 244 to the end 246 of the wall 243. Thus, while the apertures 231 and 244 are disposed in register with each other, the slot 239 extends in one direction and the slot 245 extends in the opposite direction, with the result that both slots are closed whenthe two parts of the container are put together. The aperture 244 is covered by an annular bushing 248 provided with a central aperture 249, the bushing 248 being formed tov provide a rounded mouth around the aperture 249. The wire 81 extends from the coil 85 out through the aperture 249 in the bushing 248, and as the wire is drawn from the coil it bears against the rounded mouth, which provides for feeding or dispensing the wire smoothly through the aperture 249 to prevent undue wear on either the wire or the inner edge of the aperture.

The outer end of the bottom wall 234 is provided with a pair of laterally vspaced keyhole slots 255, which are adapted to receive a pair of tongues 251, turned upwardly from the iloor plate 258 on which the container is supported. At the opposite end of the box, the bottom wall is slotted inwardly at 259 to receive a lug 260, which is securely fixed, as by welding, to the door plate 258. The end Wall 242 of the upper portion of the container is also provided with a slot 26| which is adapted to receive the lug 260.- A securing pin 262 is inserted through aligned apertures 264 in the side walls 23|, 232 of the box 230, an aperture 264 in the wall 243 of the container portion 24|, and an aperture 263 in the lug 260. The pin -262 is readily removed -from the apertures, thereby permitting the container to be removed from the supporting plate 258 by sliding it outwardly to detach the tongues 251 from the keyhole slots 255.

In order to avoid the necessity for frequent shut-down of the lbaler for purposes of replacing the coils ofwire, there are two containers for each wire section 81. Each of the containers is adapted to hold a coil of Wire,and each pair of containers are supported side lby side on the plate 258, with the bushing aperture 249 of the second container 89d disposed in register with the aperture 236 in the side wall 23| of the container 89a from which the wire 81 is being drawn. The two containers of each pair are identical and are secured to a pair of identical spaced lugs 260, 260 by means of one long securing pin 262 having a cotter pin 265 for holding the pin 262 in place. Furthermore, the containers 89h, 88d are interchangeable for the purpose which will be described. During operation, the wire is fed from one end of the first coil in the container 89b, the other end of the 'coil passing through the opposite opening 236 and is secured to the end of the second coil 85'. The twoconnected ends are preferably secured together by welding, so they will pass through the wire tying mechanism with.- out interference. The wire 81 isdrawn through the bushing aperture 249 from the coil 85 until the latter is consumed, whereupon the wire will begin to feed from the second coil 85'in the rear container 89d, being drawn directly through thel first container 89h, since all of the central apertures 231, 249, 236 are in alignment. After the wire begins to feed from the second coil 85', a third coil of wire can be added as a new reserve coil. The pin 262is removed after it is released by removing the cotter pin 265, after which the container box 230 can be removed from the wire 81 by passing the latter through the aligned horizontal slots 238, 239. The other container portion 24| can also be removed by sliding the wire out of the slot 245 in the wall plate 24'3. The bushing 248 is provided with a slot 266, winch extends from the central aperture 249 and communicates with the slot 245 in the wallplate 243. The slot 266 is preferably helical rather than straight, so that the wire will not catch in this slot while it is being unwound from the coil, for the reasonA tainer 89h, so that the wire from the second coil 85' now feeds directly into the wire tying mechanism. A new coil of wire is now placed in the container 89h after its end has been welded to the end of the coil 85', and the containers vcan then be secured to the plate 258 by the pin 262.

I claim: i

1. For use in a machine having a wire tying mechanism, a pair ofwire dispensing containers disposed side by side and having open ends adapted to receive two series connected coils of baling wire, respectively, each of said containers having spaced side walls apertured to permit the wire to extend from the rst coil through said side walls and connected to one end of the second coil and from said second coil to said mechanism, said side walls having aligned slots extending outwardly from the apertures therein to the edge of said wall adjacent the open end thereof, whereby wire is drawn from said second coil until the latter is consumed, then wire from said rst coil is drawn through the empty container passing directly from one wall aperture to the other, said empty container being removable by sliding the latter endwise, the wire being extracted through said aligned slots, said empty container -being replaceable behind the container from which wire is being drawn, to permit a third coil to be connected in series with said first coil and deposited in the container from which said second coil was drawn.

2. For use in a machine having wire tying mechanismor the like, the combination of a support, a pair of wire dispensing containers disposed side by side on said support, detachable means for securing said containers to said support, said containers having open ends adapted to receive two coils of series connected coils of wire, respectively, each of said containers having spaced side walls apertured to permit the wire to extend from the first coil through said side walls and connected to one end of the second coil and from said second coil to said mechanism, said side walls having aligned slots extending'voutwardly from the apertures therein to the edge of said wall adjacent the open end thereof, whereby wire is drawn from said second coil until the latter is consumed, then wire from said rst 'coil is drawn through the empty container, passing directly from one wall aperture to the other, said empty container being removable by detaching the same from said support and sliding the container endwise, the wire being extracted through said aligned slots, the full container then being detached from the support and shifted to the position previously occupied by the empty container,'the latter being replaceable in the space thus vacated, to permit a third coil to be connected in series with said first coil and deposited in the container from which said second coil was drawn.

3. A-wire dispensing container comprising a pair of spaced side walls having centrally disposed apertures and one end open to receive a coil of wire, said side Walls having slots communicating with said apertures, respectively, and extending outwardly therefrom to said open end, a complementary container portion including a side wall adapted to slide into said container along one of said side walls and an end wall adapted to close said open end, said side wall of the complementary portion having a central aperture and a, slot extending therefrom away from said end wall, a bushing in said aperture to form a smooth bearing through which Wire can be drawn, said bushing being provided with a slot curving spirally from the center of said bushing and communicating with said wall slot, and detachable means for securing said container portions together and to a support.

4. A dispensing container comprising a box having one end open to receive a coil of wire or the like and including a pair of connected side walls spaced on opposite sides of said open side, each of said side walls having an aperture therein through which wire can be drawn and a slot extending outwardly from said aperture to said open end, a complementary containerv member including a, side wall portion adapted to slide into said box along one of said side walls and an end Wall adapted to close said open end, said side wall of the complementary member having an aperture disposed normally in register with the aperture in said one side wall and a slot extending therefrom to an edge of the wall, and a bushing in said aperture to form a smooth bearing through which wire can be drawn, said bushing being provided with a slot curving spirally from the center -of .the bushing and communicating with said slots.

5. For use in a machine having wire or twine tying mechanism, a'pair ofy wire or twine dispensing containers disposed in proximity to each other and having open ends adapted to receive two series-connected coils orl balls of wire or twine, respectively, each of such containers having spaced side wall portions apertured to permit the wire or twine to extend from the rst coil or ball through said side wall portions and connected to one end of the second coil or ball and from said second coil or ball to said mechanism,

said side wall portions having aligned slots extending outwardly from the apertures therein to the edges of said wall portions adjacent the open end thereof, whereby wire or twine is drawn from said second coil or ball until the latter is consumed, then wire or twine from said rst coil or ball is drawn through the empty container, passing directly from one aperture to the other, said empty container being displaceable from its original position by movement thereof so that the wire or twine is extracted through said aligned slots, said empty container being repositionable behind the other container to provide forl the connection of a third coil or ball in series with the first coil or ball and for the disposition of said third coil or ball in the container from which said second coil or ball was drawn.

6. For use in a machine having wire or -twine tying mechanism, the combination of a support, a pair of wire or twine dispensing containers disposed in close proximity to each other on the support, releasable means for securing the containers to the support, said containers having open ends adapted to receive two coils or balls of seriesconnected coils or balls of wire or twine respectively, each of said containers having spaced side wall portions apertured to provide for the wire to extend from the rst coil or ball through said side wall portions and connected to one end of the second coil or ball and from said second coil or ball to said mechanism, said side wall portions having aligned slots extending outwardly from the apertures therein to the edges-of said Wall portions adjacent the open end thereof, whereby wire or twine is drawn from said second coil or ball until the latter is consumed, then wire or twine from said rst coil or ball is drawn through tl:- empty container, passing directly from one wail portion aperture to the other, said empty container being displaceable from its original position by release of the aforesaid releasable means and movement of the container so that the wire or twine is extracted through said aligned slots, the full container being then releasable from the suD- poi't and movable to the position previously occupied by the empty container, the latter being repositioned in the space thus vacated to permit a. third coil or ball to be connected in series with said rst coil or ball and deposited in the container from which said second coil or ball was drawn. MILES H. TUF'I'.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kiso Nov. 9, 1915 Fleming Jan. 11, 1921 

